Corn broom



J. L. STEVENSON.

2- Sheets-Sheet '1.

CORN BROOM.

. (No Model.)

2 N O S N E V E T S L l CORN BROOM.

No. 520,546. Pate ntd May 29, 1894.

ms NATIONAL umoeRAPnm-s COMPANY,

UNrrnn Shares FATENT @nrren.

JOHN L. STEVENSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CORN BROOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,546, dated May 29, 1894. Application filed December 14,1893. serial No. 493,641. (No model.)

use the same, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of i this specification.

- My invention is directed to the production of an improved broom by the provision of means for imparting to the sweeping end thereof a permanent bend or set to one side, whereby it is adapted for use with a pushing or pulling action. Such provision serves also to increase the durability of the broom, and to give it special value for use in stores, warehouses, railroads, barns, stables, &c., by reason of its adaptation for pushing or pulling the dirt with a long stroke and in saving time and labor in the work.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my improved broom, and in the claims concludin g this specification I will particularly point out the parts and combination of parts which constitute my invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows in perspective the device which when applied to the broom and bent gives it the desired form for pushingor pulling the dirt. Fig. 2 shows a modified construction of such bending device; showing a skeleton wire bender. Fig. 3 is a side view of the broom having the bending or forming device applied thereto. Fig. 4 shows an edge view of the broom before being bent into form. Fig. 5 shows an edge view of the broom as bent and formed by my invention.

My invention relates to house-brooms which are made of what is known as broom-corn and have a broad sweep. The broom is properly secured to the handle and it will be understood that in the use of my invention, it is necessary to stitch the broom to give it compactness and stifiness as is required in straight brooms, and that brooms so stitched are ready to receive the bender.

My improvement resides in the provision of a metallic device applied to the body of the broom in such manner as to bind it compactly into shape and to serve as the means for bending the broom to give its sweeping end a permanent set at about an angle of forty-five degrees to the handle for the purpose stated. I have shown two forms of the bending or forming device, but it is obvious that my invention isnot limited to the precise form or construction shown, since any equivalent construction may be used to carry out my invention.

The bending or forming device is made complete of malleable metal before being applied to the broom. In Fig. 1 the device is shown as being made of a sheet metal plate or back I), and a pair of wires 1) arranged across the plate and connected to it at each end so as to form a loop thereat, so as to form a sort of skeleton sleeve, open at both ends, and of oval form in cross section. It is important to notice that the end loop forming parts I), are not connected lengthwise of the broom, so that the plate or back I) is free to be bent between the loop forming parts as seen in Fig. 5. In Fig. 2 this bender or former device is made of wire, which, on one side, connects by the wires a, the loops b and forms the bending part or back. Between the loop forming parts therefore the device is open to allow it to be bent Without disturbing the relation of the loops to each other or to the bending part. In applying this bender or former, the handle of the broom isinserted through the loops and the device is forced over the thick or shouldered end of the broom-corn in position about the middle of the length thereof pressing and binding the parts of the broom compactly into proper shape, with a broad sweeping edge as shown in Fig. 4. The plate is then bent to give the broom the new form shown in Fig. 5 with its sweeping end permanently set at an angle, in which operation the loops hold and give direction to the bend between the loops, in which operation the broom-straws will be bent evenly and smoothly between the loops, both on the convex and on the concave side of the broom.

The broom may be bent either with the full 7 connected side of the bender orformer on the concave side of the broom as shown in Fig. 5 or on the convex side of the broom, but preferably with the connected side on the concave side of the broom, because as the corn straw will at first have a tendency to straighten itself, it will not leave a gap between the plate and broom, if bent with the plate inward.

Brooms made according to my invention are beveled at the sweeping edge as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, in order that when the broom is bent, as in Fig. 5 the end of the broom will be as near square as possible by reason of the longer side having to take the longer curve. The edge is then clipped to make it square, after being bent.

Brushing Whisks may be made with my invention.

- The benderor former device should be made sufliciently strong to maintain the corn in the shape given to it when bent, and the skeleton construction is preferred.

lhe bending of the broom in the form shown makes a new feature in the manufacture of house brooms and Whisks and improves the service of the article.

The bending or forming device may if desirable be fastened to the broom after being bent, by any suitable means, but the pressing of the device when driven in place, will be sufficient to hold it tight when bent, aided by the separate clamping action of the loops on each end of the bend, because such binding forces the wires or metal tight against the corn.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a broom, of a former applied to the broom-fiber and bent ing witnesses.

JNO. L. STEVENSON. Witnesses:

JOHN LEWIS, FRANK R. H. SEAToN. 

